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Friday, January 12, 2007

Is Google Earth Responsible for the Public's Bad Behavior?

Via OM, who has it through TTC, I see that Google Earth is being criticized by TotalyJewish for permiting civillians to attatch anti-Israel comments and pictures to Google Earth's Israel content.

I don't agree that this permissivness is a sign of anti-Israel bias on the part of Google, but first a few caveats:

1 - Though I plan to subscribe to Google Earth momentarily, as of this writing I am not a member, so I can't see the problems for myself. I am relying on two TotalyJewish articles (1,2) for my information and nothing else.

2 - The way I understand it (and, sure, correct me if I am wrong) is that the offensive mateiral isn't Google content, but stuff posted by ordinary members of the public.

3 - TJN additionally says that GoogleEarth has some of Israel's borders wrong. Because I am not a subscriber, I can't check this, but of course the political borders displayed on GE should be correct, and if they aren't that's a mini-scandal, at least.

4 - Google, according to TJ, says it will delete offensive material from Google Earth. As a non-subscriber, I can't see the material that has offended the folks at TJ, but if it's bad, of course Google should take it down.

All that said, I don't think Google deserve quite so much flack. They can't be held responsible for the stupid things their members think and say.

Now, arguably, Google Earth is no place to allow free public commentary from the general public, in the first place. But it's already there. If the commentary members have submitted meets the rules Google put forward it is unreasonable to ask Google to go after any and every comment we might not like. It's not Google's role to decide if the claims of a disgruntled Arab are true or not. And, pace TJN, Google's unwillingness to insert itself into these types of disputes does not suggest an "anti-Israel" bias. It merely suggests that Google's view is that their members should be more or less able to say anything they wish. And that, for better or worse, is a view I support.

Anyway, if you don't like the commentary found at Google Earth you can take matters into your own hands:

If it relates to Jews, Judaism, holidays, Midrash,Torah, halacha or anything similar, I probably have a post on it. And if I have a post on it, I probably have a good comment thread with great reader-provided information, too.

Try a search and see for yourself. If you can't find what you're looking for ask me.

Quotes

רֹאשׁ דְּבָרְךָ אֱמֶת קוֹרֵא מֵרֹאשׁ דּוֹר וָדוֹר עַם דּוֹרֶשְׁךָ דְּרֹשׁ
Your chief word is "truth"; You've called it out since the beginning. In each generation people interpret You [for themselves] and find [their own] meaning.

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you odd. -Flannery O'Connor

“When in the afterglow of religious insight I can see a way that is good for all humans as it is for me—I will know it is His way.” - R. Abraham Joshua Heschel

I don't accept at all the quite popular argument that the press is responsible for the monarchy's recent troubles. The monarchy's responsible for the monarchy's recent troubles. To blame the press is the old thing of blaming the messenger for the message. -Anthony Holden

Said behind my back

"...he's trying to show that there are other facets to Orthodox Judaism. That we don't all think one way and vote one way. And he's occasionally entertaining when he's not being mean-spirited" [PsychoToddler]"

"He's witty. He's funny. He appreciates the ridiculous in life, and has no qualms about telling you when he thinks that you're being a moron" [Cara]

" I'm pretty sure [DovBear] is a really great guy who just wants to be able to ask questions and talk about things without the fear of someone claiming he's off the derech or on his way there." [Chaviva]